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La Llorona de Mazatlán

Cover and Chapter Art by

Irene Jiménez Casasnovas

Written by

Katie Baker

Edited by

Carol Gaab

Copyright © 2013 by Fluency Matters

All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-935575-87-0

Fluency Matters, P.O. Box 11624, Chandler, AZ 85248

info@FluencyMatters.com • FluencyMatters.com

A NOTE TO THE READER

This novel is based on a Mexican legend. The

story was written with a manageable amount of high-

frequency vocabulary (fewer than 300 unique words)

and countless cognates (words that are similar in two

languages), making it an ideal read for beginning

language students.

Essential vocabulary is listed in the glossary at the

back of the book. Keep in mind that many verbs are

listed in the glossary more than once, as most appear

throughout the book in various forms and tenses.

(Ex.: I go, he goes, he went, etc.) Vocabulary struc-

tures that would be considered beyond a ‘novice-

mid’ level are footnoted within the text, and the

meanings given at the bottom of the page where

each occurs.

We hope you enjoy the author’s version of the leg-

end! Happy reading from Fluency Matters.

ÍndiceCapítulo 1: Atrapada en la monotonía . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Capítulo 2: Diferencias de opinión . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Capítulo 3: Una vida de aventuras . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Capítulo 4: Mazatlán . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Capítulo 5: Los tres mosqueteros . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Capítulo 6: ¡Audiciones! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Capítulo 7: Un día de sorpresas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Capítulo 8: Una evaluación de intenciones . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Capítulo 9: La envidia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Capítulo 10: La pulsera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Capítulo 11: Terror en la noche . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Capítulo 12: Tía Marta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Capítulo 13: La Llorona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Capítulo 14: Decisiones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Glosario . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

Glosario de Cognados . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

Capítulo 1Atrapada en la monotonía

Laney Morales caminó hacia otra mesa en la hela-dería y pasó frente a la ventana. Miró su imagen en elcristal. Vio su pelo largo y negro, sus ojos marrones y supiel morena. Laney sabía que era hermosa, pero no sesentía hermosa en este momento. Llevaba el ridículouniforme de la heladería, Braums’. Tenía helado en lasmanos, en la ropa…y en el pelo. Se sentía completa-mente fea.

1

«Aquí está su helado», le dijo a un cliente, avergon-

zada por su apariencia. Laney le dio su helado y, for-

zando una sonrisa, le dijo: «Gracias por venir a Braums».

No le gustaba el trabajo en la heladería porque siem-

pre tenía helado en las manos. Pero era un trabajo, y

Laney tenía que ganar dinero. Su padre no ganaba

mucho dinero. Ganaba suficiente, pero no para cosas

‘extras’. Si Laney quería zapatos Nike o un teléfono in-

teligente, tenía que trabajar.

La puerta se abrió y una chica entró a la heladería.

Era Jessica, una amiga de Laney. Ellas jugaban juntas con

los Tigres, el equipo de fútbol de Norman High School.

– Hola, Laney –le dijo Jessica.

– Hola, Jessica. ¿Qué tal?

– Fatal. ¿Ya recibiste tu carta del campa-

mento? –le preguntó su amiga con voz triste.

Jessica hablaba del Campamento Internacional de

Fútbol en Mazatlán, México. Aunque Laney trabajaba

para comprar un teléfono, ahora tenía otra motivación:

ganar dinero para el campamento. Ahora el campamento

le importaba más que un teléfono tonto. Las dos amigas

querían ir juntas. Ellas filmaron videos para la audición,

y ahora estaban esperando cartas del campamento.

– No, no recibí nada. Yo he estado aquí en

La Llorona

2

Braums’ todo el día. ¿Tú? ¿La recibiste? –Laney

le preguntó, aunque era obvio que Jessica ya

había recibido1 una carta y que el campa-

mento no la había aceptado2.– Sí, recibí mi carta hoy. No me aceptaron…No

voy.– Ay, qué terrible. Pues, si tú no tienes una

plaza, es probable que no me vayan3 a aceptartampoco.

Laney compró un helado con chocolate extra parasu desilusionada amiga. Jessica se comió el helado ysalió.

A las 6:30 de la tarde, Laney salió de Braums’ y em-pezó a caminar hacia su apartamento. Caminó lenta-mente. Aunque esperaba su carta del campamentoansiosamente, ahora tenía miedo de verla. Si no acepta-ron a Jessica, probablemente Laney no iría tampoco yella quería ir al campamento más que nada en el mundo.

Para Laney, el fútbol era su vida. Lo practicaba todo

su tiempo libre. El campamento era una oportunidad ex-

celente para jugar al fútbol este verano y en el futuro tam-

bién. Si jugaba bien, era posible que recibiera dinero

1había recibido - had received2no la había aceptado - they had not accepted her3no me vayan - they are not going

Capítulo 1

3

para la universidad. Laney tenía diecisiete años y su sueño era jugar al fútbol para una universidad grande.

Además, Laney quería escapar de su vida normal.Laney vivía en un apartamento pequeño en Norman,Oklahoma con su padre. A Laney, Oklahoma le parecíauna prisión. No teníaconciertos buenos,ni tiendas buenas.No tenía el mar, nilas montañas gran-des. Hacía muchoviento, y eso eratodo.

Laney siguió ca-minando. Pensaba:«No es probable queme vayan a invitar».¿Podría Laney esca-par de Norman?¿Podía dejar su tra-bajo en la heladería?O ¿iba a estar en Oklahoma para siempre?

La Llorona

4

Capítulo 2Diferencias de opinión

Ya eran las siete de la tarde cuando Laney llegó alapartamento. Ella entró a la cocina y se sorprendió dever a su padre. Él estaba sentado en la mesa con unaCoca-Cola y parecía enojado. Tenía una carta en lamano. Ahora Laney tenía miedo de una carta diferente.¿Recibió su padre una carta de la escuela? ¿Recibió ellamalas notas en una de sus clases? Era obvio que a Laney

5

el fútbol le importaba más que sus estudios, así que ellatrató de hablar con indiferencia.

– Buenas tardes, Papi. ¿Cómo fue tu día?Su padre no le respondió a la pregunta. Abrupta-

mente, él le preguntó:– ¿Por qué no me mencionaste que hiciste una

audición para un campamento en México?Laney trató de responder con una voz calmada:

– ¿Cómo sabes que yo hice una audición? – ¡Porque recibiste una carta del campa-

mento! –le gritó su padre furioso.– ¿Recibí la carta? ¡¿Me aceptaron?! –exclamó

Laney con entusiasmo.– No me importa lo que dice la carta. ¡No te vas

a México! – Entonces, ¿me aceptaron? ¡¿Me invitaron a Mé-

xico?! –le exclamó Laney con voz de emoción.– Sí, te invitaron, pero ¡No tenemos dinero extra

para un campamento en México! ¡Además, notienes mi permiso! –le gritó su padre enojado.

– ¡No! No puedes decir que no tenemos dinero.¡Yo tengo dinero! ¡Yo trabajé en esa tonta he-ladería todo el año! –gritó Laney.

Ella empezó a llorar y se sentó a la mesa. Su padresiguió bebiendo su Coca–Cola® en silencio y Laney si-

La Llorona

6

guió hablando.– El campamento es una oportunidad buena para

mí. Es mi sueño. Es posible que reciba dineropara la universidad. Y está en México; puedover el país de tu familia. ¿Qué podría salirmal1?

Su padre respondió en voz alta: – Eres joven y no entiendes que hay mucho que

podría salir mal. No entiendes el mundo. Mé-xico puede ser peligroso para una chica jovencomo tú. ¡No hay nada en México para ti! Nome hables más de esto. Estoy cansado.

– ¿Yo no entiendo nada? ¡Tú no entiendes nada!Nunca entiendes mis sueños –respondió Laneyfrustrada.

Ella se puso triste y lloró. Lloró y lloró pero no dijonada más. Estaba desilusionada. Nunca iba a escapar deOklahoma. Laney y su padre se sentaron en silencio.

Después de unos minutos, su padre habló:– Laney… –empezó su padre–, es difícil aceptar

que mi hija no es una niña. Ya eres una mujerque gana dinero y toma decisiones...y un día,vas a ir a la universidad...Es difícil. Y México,realmente, puede ser peligroso. Hay drogas

1¿Qué podría salir mal? - What could go wrong?

Capítulo 2

7

y violencia ahora. Tengo miedo por ti, hija.Laney se levantó y abrazó a su padre.

– Yo sé, Papi, pero no todo México es drogas yviolencia. Es un país hermoso. Es tu país.Mazatlán no es tan peligroso. Y este campa-mento realmente es una oportunidad buenapara mí.

El padre de Laney pensó un momento. – Sí, niña, yo sé. Estoy orgulloso de ti, estoy or-

gulloso de tu talento en el fútbol, y realmente,yo quiero que tú tengas la oportunidad. Peroquiero también que tengas un contacto en Mé-xico para emergencias. Espera un momento.

El padre se levantó y salió de la cocina. Laney oyóque su padre buscaba unos papeles. Entonces, ella sepreguntó, «¿Qué buscaba? ¿Voy a ir a México o no?».Después de diez minutos, su padre volvió a la cocinacon un papel en la mano.

– Tu tía abuela vive en México, más o menoscerca de Mazatlán. Es mi tía. Ella no salió conel resto de la familia. Se llama Marta. Noso-tros visitamos a Marta una vez, cuando tú eraschica. Tenía que buscar el papel con su infor-mación de contacto.

Laney miró el papel y vio la dirección y el número

La Llorona

8

de teléfono de su tía abuela. De repente, Laney se diocuenta de que su padre estaba dándole permiso2. ¡Laneyiba a ir a México!

– Oh , ¡Papi! –gritó Laney–. ¡Estoy tan feliz!¡Gracias, gracias! Va a ser un verano fantás-tico. ¡Gracias! Laney abrazó a su padre otravez y corrió a su habitación para pensar.

2dándole permiso - giving her permission

Capítulo 2

9

a - to abrazó - s/he huggedabrió - s/he opened(se) acercaba - s/he was ap-

proachingacercarse - to approachacercó - s/he approachedademás - furthermore agarrar - to grab agarrarlos - to grab themagarraron - they grabbedagarró - s/he grabbedagua - water ahora - now al - to the al lado - to/on the sideal menos - at leastallí - there alto(a) - tall; high or loud

(voice)amigo(a/os/as) - friend(s) año(s) - year(s) aquí - here así - so asustó - s/he was startled,

frightenedasustada - startled, frightened

aunque - although aún - even avergonzada - ashamed, em-

barrassedavión(es) - airplane(s) ayuda - she, it helps, helpayudaba - she helpedayudar - to helpayudó - s/he helpedazul(es) - bluebeber - to drinkbebiendo - drinking besaron - they kissed besé - I kissedbesó - s/he kissedbien - well blanco(a) - white boca - mouth brazo(s) - arm(s)brillaba - she, it was shiningbrillaban - they were shiningbrillante - bright, shinybueno(a) - good buenos(as) - good buscaba - s/he was searching

for buscando - searching

Glosario

75

Glosario

buscar - to search, to look forcaballo - horse cabeza - head callado(a) - quiet calladamente - quietly cama(s) - bed(s)camina - she walks caminaba - s/he was walking caminando - walking caminar - to walkcaminaron - they walked (no) camines - don’t walkcaminó - s/he walkedcamiseta - tee shirt, jerseycampamento - camp campo - field cansado(a/os/as) - tiredcara - face carta(s) - letter(s)casa(s) - house(s)casarse - to get married(se) casó - she got married(se) cayó - s/he, it fell cena - dinner cerca - near, close(se) cerraron - they closedcerró - s/he closedchica(s) - girl(s) chico(s) - boy(s)

cinco - five claramente - clearly claro - clear, clearly, of

coursecocina - kitchen comer - to eatcomía - s/he was eatingcomida - food comieron - they ate comió - she atecomo - like, ascompré - I boughtcompró - s/he boughtcon - with confundida - confused conoces - you knowconocía - she knewconozco - I know¡corre! - run! correr - to runcorría - s/he ran, s/he was

runningcorriendo - running corrieron - they ran corrió - s/he ran cosa(s) - things, stuffcreer - to believe creerme - to believe I amcrees - you believe

Glosario

76

creía - she believed, shethought

creo - I believe creyó - she believed, she

thoughtcristal - glass (in a window)cuando - when(se dio, me di) cuenta - she, I

realized(ten) cuidado - (be careful),

cautioncómo - how daba - gave, was givingdándole - giving herde - of, from decía - s/he was saying, saiddecir - to say, to tell decirle - to tell herdecirles - to tell themdejar - to leavedejó - s/he leftdel - of the desayuno - breakfast descansar - to rest descanso - a restdespertar(se) - to wake up(se) despertaron - they woke

up(se) despertó - she woke up

despierta - awake después - after detrás - behind día(s) - day(s)dice - s/he, it saysdicen - they saydiecisiete - seventeen dieciséis - sixteen (que te) diera - (that) he gave

(past subjuctive)diez - ten (no me) digas - don’t tell medigo - I’ll tell, I tell dije - I tolddijo - s/he saiddinero - money dio - s/he gavedolía - it was hurtingdomingo - Sunday donde - where dónde - where (no había) dormido - (she

hadn’t) sleptdormir - to sleepdormía - s/he was sleepingdos - two duele - it hurtsdueño - owner durante - during

Glosario

77

durmió - s/he slept el - the él - he ella - she ellos(as) - they (sin) embargo - however emocionada - excited empezaron - they beganempezó - s/he, it startedempieza - it startsen - in, on, at(se) encuentra - s/he encoun-

tersenojado(a/os/as) - angry entiendes - you understandentiendo - I understand equipo(s) - team(s)era - it waseran - they were eras - you were eres - you are es - s/he, it isescribir - to write escribió - she wrote escríbeme - write meescuchaba - she was listening escuchar - to listenescuchó - she listenedescuela - school

eso(e/a) - that espera - wait esperaba - she was awaiting;

she was hopingesperaban - they were await-

ingesperando - waiting esperó - she waitedestaba - s/he, it wasestaban - they were estar - to beestá - s/he it isestán - they are estás - you are esto(e/a) - this estoy - I am estuviera - s/he, I were (past-

subjunctive)exnovio - ex boyfriend extraño(a/os/as) - strange faro - lighthouse feliz(ces) - happy felizmente - happilyfeo(a/os/as) - ugly flaca - thin, skinnyforzando - forcing(en) frente - in frontfrío(a) - cold

Glosario

78

fue - s/he, it was, s/he, itwent

(que) fuera - (that) s/he, itwere; s/he, it went (past subjunctive)

fueron - they were, theywent

fuerte(s) - strong, loudfuertemente - strongly fui - I wentfútbol - soccer gana - she earnsganaba - he earnedganar - to earngracias - thank yougrande(s) - big grita - she screamsgritando - screaming gritar - to scream gritaron - they screamedgritas - you screamgritó - s/he screamed, yelledguapo(a) - handsome, attrac-

tive, beautiful guiñó (un ojo) - he winked(me, te) gusta - I, you like it(le) gustaba - she liked it(le) gustaban - she liked

them

gustar - to like(le) gustas - she likes you(le) gustó - she likedhabía - there was, there werehablaba - s/he was talking(no había) hablado - she

hadn’t talkedhablando - talking hablar - to talkhablaron - they talked(no) hables - don’t talkhabló - s/he talkedhacer - to do, to makehaces - you dohasta - until hay - there is, there arehelado - ice cream heladería - ice cream shophermanas - sisters hermanos - brothers hermoso(a/os/as) - beautifulhice - I did hicieron - they didhiciste - you didhija - daughter hijos - sons, children hizo - s/he, it did; s/he, it

madehola - hello

Glosario

79

hombre(s) - man (men)hora(s) - hour(s) hoy - today iba - s/he, it was goingir - to goiría - s/he would goirme - to gojoven(es) - young jóvenes - young peoplejugaba - s/he was playing,

playedjugaban - they were playing,

playedjugador(a/es/as) - player(s)jugando - playing jugar - to playjugaron - they playedjugaste - you playedjugó - s/he placed juntarse - to meet togetherjuntos(as) - together la - it, thelado - side lágrimas - tearslargo(a/os/as) - long las - the le - to him, herlentamente - slowly les - to them

levantaron - they stood up¡levántate! - get up!levantó - s/he stood up, got

uplibre - free lista(s) - list(s)listo(a/os/as) - ready (se) llama - calls (himself,

herself)(se) llamaba - called (him-

self, herself)llamar - to call llámame - call me(te) llamas - you call (your-

self)(me) llamo - I call (myself)llegar - to arrive llegaron - they arrived llegaste - you arrived (cuando) llegues - (when)

you arrive (presentsubjunctive)

llegó - s/he arrived llevaba - s/he was wearingllora - she crieslloraba - s/he was crying llorando - crying llorar - to cry lloraron - they cried

Glosario

80

lloró - s/he criedllorona - a woman who cries

a lotlo - it loca - crazy los - the luego - then luna - moon luz - light mal - badly malo(a) - bad mano(s) - hand(s)mañana(s) - tomorrow, morn-

ing(s)mar - seamarrón(es) - brown más - more más que nada - more than

anythingme - to memedia dormida - half asleeepmejor(es) - better, best (al) menos - less, except (at

least)mentira(s) - lie(s)mentiroso(a) - liar(s)mesa - table mi(s) - my mí - me

mía - mine (tener) miedo - to have fear

(to be afraid)¡mira! - look!miraba - s/he was watching,

s/he was looking mirando - looking mirándola - watching her mirándolo - watching himmirar - to look, to watch (como si…) mirara - (as if)

s/he were watching(past subjunctive)

miraron - they watched miró - s/he looked, s/he

watched moreno(a) - brunette, darkmover - to movemovía - she was movingmoviendo - moving movió - s/he, it moved mucho(a/os/as) - a lot, many muchísimo - a whole lotmuertos - dead mujer(es) - woman (women)mundo - world murieron - they died murió - s/he died muy - very

Glosario

81

nada - nothing nadar - to swimnadaron - they swamnariz - nose negro(a/os/as) - black ni - neither, nor, not evenni siquiera - not evenningún(a) - no, not oneniña(s) - little girl(s)niño(s) - little boy(s)noche(s) - night(s)nosotros - we novia - girlfriend novio - boyfriend nuevo(a/os/as) - new nunca - never ocho - eight oí - I heard oía - s/he, I heard, was hear-

ing oír - to hearojo(s) - eye(s)orgulloso(a) - proud oro - gold otro(a/os/as) - other, anotheroyes - you hear oyó - s/he heard padre - father padres - parents

país - country para - for parece - it seems pareces - you seem parecía - s/he, it seemed parecían - they seemed partido - game, sports matchpasa - it happens pasaba - it was happeningpasado(a/os/as) - past pasar - to pass, to happenpasaron - they passed, they

happenedpasó - she passed, it hap-

penedpegar - to hitpegó - she, it hitpeligroso - dangerous pelo(s) - hair(s)pelota - ball pensaba - s/he thoughtpensar - to thinkpensó - s/he thoughtpequeño(a/os/as) - small pero - but pesadilla(s) - nightmare(s)piel - skin piensas - you think

Glosario

82

piropos - flirtatious compli-ments

playa - beach plaza - a place, a spotpobre(s) - poor poco - a little, a bitpodemos - we canpodía - s/he could podría - it could por - for porque - because postal(es) - postcard(s)pregunta - question (se) preguntaba - she asked

(herself)preguntarle - to ask herpreguntó - s/he asked primer(a) - first pueblo - town puede - it can pueden - they, you all canpuedes - you canpuedo - I can puerta(s) - door(s) pues - well, butpulsera - bracelet (se) puso - s/he put (on); s/he

becameque - that

qué - what quería - s/he, I wanted querían - they wantedquerías - you wantedquien - who quién - who?quieres - you wantquiero - I want quise - I wanted(tener) razón - (to have) rea-

son (to be right)recibí - I received recibían - they received recibió - s/he received recibir - to receive recibiste - you received regalo(s) - gift(s) (de) repente - suddenly repetía - she repeated repite - she repeatsrepitió - s/he repeatedrespiraba - she was breathing respiraban - they were

breathing respiración - breath, respira-

tion respiró - she breathed rico(a/os/as) - rich (se) rió - s/he laughed

Glosario

83

río(s) - river(s)roja - red ropa(s) - clothes rubio(a) - blonde saber - to know sabes - you know sabía - s/he knewsabían - they knewsacar (una foto) - to take (a

picture)sacó - s/he took outsalieron - they went outsalió - s/he, it leftsalir - to leavesaltó - s/he jumpedsé - I knowsea - it is (present subjuctive)sepa - s/he, I know (subjunc-

tive)semana(s) - week(s) (se) sentaba - s/he was sitting sentada - seated (se) sentaron - they satsentarse - to sitsentía - s/he felt (se) sentó - s/he sat señora - ma’am, mrs. ser - to besería - it would be

si - if sí - yes siempre - always siéntate - sit down siete - seven siguiente(s) - following siguieron - they continuedsiguió - s/he, it continued sin - without(ni) siquiera - not evensobre - about, upon, on top

ofsol - sun solamente - only solo(a/os/as) - alone son - they are sonido(s) - sound(s)sonreía - s/he was smiling sonreían - they were smiling sonreír - to smilesonrió - s/he smiled sonrisa(s) - smile(s)sorprendida - surprised soy - I amsoñaba - she was dreaming soñando - dreaming soñó - she dreamed su(s) - his, hersuelo - ground

Glosario

84

sueño(s) - dream(s)(qué) tal - what’s up?tal (vez) - perhaps también - also tampoco - neither tan - as, sotarde(s) - late, afternoonte - to youten - have tenemos - we have tener - to have (que) tengas - (that) you have

(present subjunctive)tengo - I have tenía - s/he, it, I hadtenían - they hadtenías - you had(he) tenido - I have had ti - you tía (abuela) - (great) aunttiempo - time tienda(s) - stores tiene - s/he, it has tienen - they have tienes - you have tierra - ground, earthtocaba - she was touchingtocando - touching

tocándose la nariz - touchinghis/her nose

tocarle - to touch him/hertocó - s/he touched todavía - still, yettodo(a/os/as) - all, everytoma (una decisión) - s/he

makes a decisiontoman (una decisión) - they

make a decisiontomar - to taketomé (una decisión) - I made

a decisiontomó - s/he took tonto(a) - silly, dumbtormenta - storm torre - tower trabajando - working trabajar - to work trabajé - I worked trabajo - work, jobtrabajó - s/he worked trata - try trataba - s/he tried trató - s/he tried tres - threetriste(s) - sad tu - your tú - you

Glosario

85

tuve - I had tuvo - she hadun(a) - aunos(as) - a, some usted - you (formal)ustedes - you all (formal)va - s/he, it goes vamos - we go, let’s govas - you go(que) vayan - (that) they’re

going (present subjunc-tive)

(a) veces - (some)times veía - she was seeing ven - come venir - to come ventana(s) - window(s)venía - it was comingveo - I see ver - to see verano - summer verla - to see itverte - to see youvestido(s) - dress(es)vez - time vi - I saw viaje - trip viajó - she traveled vida - life

viejo(a) - old viejos(as) - old(hacía) viento - (it was mak-

ing) wind; it was windyviernes - Friday vieron - they saw vio - s/he sawvista(s) - view(s) viste - you sawvive - she lives vivía - s/he livedvivir - to livevolver - to returnvolvieron - they returned volvió - s/he returnedvoy - I go voz baja - low, soft voicey - and ya - already yo - I zapatos - shoes

Glosario

86

abandonó - she abandonedabruptamente - abruptly acciones - actionsacento - accent aceptar - to acceptaceptaron - they acceptedaceptó - it acceptedactuar - to actacusación - accusation administración - administra-

tion admito - I admitaeropuerto - airport aire - air al final - at lastansiosamente - anxiously antinatural - unnatural apariencia - appearance apartamento(s) -

apartment(s)arrogante - arrogant atención - attention atletas - athletesaudiciones - auditionsaudición - audition autobuses - buses autobús - bus

automóvil - automobile, carautos - autos, carsaventura - adventure barracudas - barracudas boogeyman - boogeymanbotes - boats breve - brief, shortbruto - brute, jerkcabina(s) - cabin(s) cafetería - cafeteria candela(s) - candle(s)capital - capital casualmente - casually catedral - cathedral celulares - cellular phoneschaqueta - jacket chocolate - chocolate clase - class cocos - coconuts coincidencia - coincidence colores - colors computadoras - computers concentrarse - to concentrate (se) concentró - she concen-

tratedconciertos - concerts conexión - connection

Cognados

87

Cognados

contacto - contact contenta - content, happy correcto(a/os/as) - correct cortesía - courtesy cortina(s) - curtain(s)cultura - culture curiosidad - curiosity cámara - camera cómoda - comfortable decidieron - they decided decisiones - decisions decisión - decision decorados - decorated desastre - disaster desilusionada - disillusioned diamante(s) - diamond(s)diferente - different difícil - difficult dirección - direction directamente - directly distancia - distance (se) drogara - was druggeddrogas - drugs edificio(s) - edifice(s), build-

ing(s)elegante(s) - elegant eléctrica - electric emergencia(s) -

emergency(ies)

emoción - emotionencantada (de conocerte) -

enchanted (to meet you)

encontrar - to encounter, tofind

encontró - she encountered,she found

entra - s/he enters entraron - they entered entró - s/he entered entusiasmo - enthusiasmenvidia - envy envidioso(a/os/as) - envious error(es) - error(s)escapar - to escape esnob - snob espacios - spaces especial - special especialmente - especially espíritu(s) - spirit(s), ghost(s)espontánea - spontaneousesposo - spouse, husbandesqueleto - skeletonestación - station estado - state Estados Unidos - United

States eventos - events

Cognados

88

eventualmente - eventually exactamente - exactly excelente - excellent exclamó - s/he exclaimed experiencia - experience explicó - s/he explained expresión - expression extendió - she extended extra(s) - extra extraordinario - extraordi-

nary fabuloso(a) - fabulous falso(a/os/as) - false familia - family famoso(a) - famous fantástico(a) - fantastic fenomenal - phenomenal filmaron - they filmed flirteaban - they were flirtingflirtear - to flirt (no) flirtees - don’t flirtfoto(s) - photo(s)frustración - frustration frustrada - frustrated fruta(s) - fruit(s)furioso - furious futuro - future gol - goal (in soccer)grupo - group

habitación - habitation, roomhorrible - horrible horror - horror horroroso(a) - horrifying hoteles - hotels idea - idea idiota - idiot idéntica - identical ignorar - to ignore ignoró - she ignored imagen - image imaginaba - she was imagin-

ing imaginación - imagination imaginar - to imagine imaginó - she imagined (no me) importa - it’s not im-

portant to me, it doesn’tmatter to me

importante(s) - important increíble - incredible incómoda - uncomfortable información - information insensitivo - insensitive instante - instant insultos - insults inteligente - intelligent intensa - intense intensamente - intensely

Cognados

89

interesante(s) - interesting(s)

internacional - international

interrumpió - she interrupted

interés - interest

invitada - invited

junio - June

justo - just

latina - Latina, Hispanic

leyenda - legend

línea(s) - line(s)

mamá - Mom, Mommy

mantarraya(s) - manta ray(s)

marcas - marks, grades

mencionaste - you men-

tioned

mental - mental

mercado - market

metrópolis - metropolis

mexicana - Mexican

millones - millions

minuto(s) - minute(s)

misterio - mystery

misterioso(a) - mysterious

misteriosamente - mysteri-

ously

moderno - modern

momento(s) - moment(s)

monstruoso(a) - monstrous

montañas - mountains

motivación - motivation

monótono - monotonous

monotonía - monotony

movimientos - movements

nativas - natives

nausea - nausea

navegantes - sailor, seafarers

necesitaba - she needed

necesito - I need

nervios - nerves

nerviosa - nervous

nerviosamente - nervously

nerviosísima - very nervous

no - no

normal - normal

normalmente - normally

notó - s/he noticed

número - number

o - or

objeto - object

observar - to observe

observó - s/he observed

obvio - obvious

oportunidad - opportunity

pacifico - Pacific

palmeras - palms, palm trees

pantalones - pants

papel(es) - paper(s)

parte(s) - part(s)

Cognados

90

perdonar - to pardon, forgiveperdón - pardon perdóname - pardon me perfecta - perfect periodo - period permiso - permission persona(s) - person (people)pin pon - ping pongplan - plan planeta - planet platos - plates popular - popular posible - possible posiblemente - possibly practicaba - s/he was practic-

ing practicaban - they were

practicingpracticando - practicing practicas - you practice practicó - s/he practiced preparados - prepared preparando - preparing prisión - prison probable - probable probablemente - probably problema(s) - problem(s)profesional - professional prohibido(s) - prohibited

protección - protection práctica - practice real - real realmente - really realísticos - realistic relación - relation, relation-

shipreligiosa - religious responder - to respondrespondió - s/he respondedresponsabilidad - responsi-

bility resto - rest ridículo - ridiculous roca(s) - rock(s) romántico(a/os/as) - roman-

tic románticamente - roman-

tically rápido - rapid, fast rápidamente - rapidly,

quickly sarcástica - sarcastic secreto - secret silencio - silence situación - situation sofá - sofa suave - suave, smooth,

charming

Cognados

91

suficiente - sufficient súper - super talento - talent talentoso(a/os/as) - talented tele - television teléfono(s) - telephone(s)temblaba - she was tremblingtembló - she trembledterrible - terrible terror - terror terrorífica - terrifyingtigre(s) - tiger(s)torturado - tortured totalmente - totally tranquilo(a) - tranquil, calmtranquilamente - tranquilly,

calmly transformó - she transformed tropical - tropical trágico - tragic trágicamente - tragically turistas - tourists turno - turn típico - typical uniforme - uniform universidad(es) -

university(ies)uso - use usual - usual

vacantes - vacant vegetación - vegetation versiones - versions videos - videos violencia - violence virgen - virgin visita - she visitsvisitamos - we visitedvisitar - to visitvisitó - s/he visited vomitar - to vomit voz - voice zafiro - sapphire zona - zone

Cognados

92

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Leyendas ImpactantesNovice and Intermediate versions(Two versions under one cover!)

6 traditional legends, from 6 different Latin Amer-ican cultures, each told twice to make them acces-sible for both novice and intermediate students!Students will enjoy tales of love, mystery, in-trigue, deception, helpful and dangerous dieties,demons and curses!

More compelling reads from...

Edi el elefante Perfect picture book for beginners!Present & Past Tense - 55 unique wordsEdi is a talented elephant, but he is very small.Edi does not want to be talented or small; hewants to be BIG! One day, Edi discovers that asmall animal can solve a big problem and thatbeing small is not so horrible after all.

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Brandon Brown versus YucatánPast & Present Tense - 140 unique words(Two versions under one cover!)

In Mexico, bad decisions and careless mischief canbring much more trouble than a 12-year-old boy canhandle alone. Will he and his new friend, outwit theirparents? (Also available in French)

El nuevo HoudiniPast & Present Tense - 200 unique words(Two versions under one cover!)

Brandon is dying to drive his father's T-bird while hisparents are on vacation. Will he fool his parents andwin the girl of his dreams in the process? (Also avail-able in French & Russian)

Brandon Brown quiere un perroPresent Tense - 103 unique words

Determined to get a dog, Brandon will do almost any-thing, but will he do everything it takes to keep one…a secret? (Also available in French, Italian, Latin, Chi-nese & German)

Brandon Brown dice la verdadPresent Tense - 75 unique words

Brandon quickly discovers that not telling the truth cancreate big problems and a lot of stress! Will he win inthe end, or will he decide that honesty is the best pol-icy? (Also available in French)

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Brandon Brown Series

Bianca Nieves y los 7 toritosPast Tense - 150 unique wordsBullfighting is a dangerous sport, and there is noth-ing more menacing than facing a raging bull in themiddle of the ring. All eyes are on the great torero,‘El Julí,’ as he faces off against the most ferociousbull in the land, but nobody, aside from his daugh-ter, Bianca, seems to notice that his greatest threatwalks on two legs, not four. In her attempt to warn

and save her father, Bianca soon realizes that fighting an angry bull ismuch safer than battling greed and deception.

Additional Titles

Frida KahloPast Tense - 160 unique wordsFrida Kahlo (1907-1954) is one of Mexico's greatestartists, a remarkable achievement for someone whospent most of her relatively short life wracked withpain. Frida expressed her pain through her art, pro-ducing some 143 paintings, 55 of which were self-portraits. To this day, she remains an icon of strength,

courage and audacity. This brief biography provides a glimpse into herturbulent life and her symbolic art.

El Ekeko: Un misterio bolivianoPresent Tense - 190 unique wordsPaco is disappointed when his mother suggests thathe replace his worn out shoes with his grandfather’sold boots. He reluctantly goes to the closet and grad-ually realizes that the closet holds much more thanhis grandfather’s old boots and a box of letters. Hid-den among his grandfather’s possessions is a gift that

has potential to bring some startling surprises and unexpected conse-quences.

Felipe Alou: Desde los valles a las montañasPast Tense - 150 unique wordsThis is the true story of one of Major League Base-ball’s greatest players and managers, Felipe RojasAlou. When Felipe left the Dominican Republic in1955 to play professional baseball in the UnitedStates, he had no idea that making it to the ‘BigLeague’ would require much more than athelticismand talent. He soon discovers that language barriers,

discrimination and a host of other obstacles would prove to be the mostmenacing threats to his success. (Also available in English & French;unique word count approximately 300.)

EsperanzaPresent Tense, 1st person - 200 unique words

This is the true story of a family caught in the middleof political corruption during Guatemala's 36-yearcivil war. Tired of watching city workers endurecountless human rights violations, Alberto organizesa union. When he and his co-workers go on strike,Alberto’s family is added to the government's "exter-

mination" list. The violent situation leaves Alberto separated from hisfamily and forces them all to flee for their lives. Will their will to survivebe enough to help them escape and reunite?

Piratas del Caribe y el mapa secretoPresent Tense - 180 unique wordsThe tumultuous, pirate-infested seas of the 1600'sserve as the historical backdrop for this fictitiousstory of adventure, suspense and deception. Rumorsof a secret map abound in the Caribbean, and HenryMorgan (François Granmont, French version) willstop at nothing to find it. (Also available in French)

Piratas del Caribe y el Triángulo de lasBermudasPast Tense - 280 unique wordsWhen Tito and his father set sail from Florida toMaryland, they have no idea that their decision topass through the Bermuda Triangle could completelychange the course of their voyage, not to mention thecourse of their entire lives!

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Noches misteriosas en GranadaPresent Tense - Fewer than 300 unique wordsKevin leaves for a summer in Spain, and his lifeseems anything but perfect. He escapes into a bookand enters a world of long-ago adventures. As theboundaries between his two worlds begin to blur, hediscovers that nothing is as it appears...especially atnight! (Also available in French)

Noche de oroPast Tense - 290 unique wordsNow a college student, Makenna Parker returns toCosta Rica as a volunteer and finds unexpected ro-mance that lands her in the middle of a perilousscheme. Does Martín really have good intentions, andwhat are he and his stepfather up to? Will Makennadiscover the truth before it’s too late?’

Noche oro

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Kristy Placido

Robo en la noche (Prequel to Noche de Oro)Past & Present Tense - 380 unique wordsFifteen-year-old Makenna Parker had reservationsabout moving to Costa Rica, but didn’t know that miss-ing her home would be the least of her worries. Shefinds herself in the middle of an illegal scheme, andit’s a race against time to save the treasured macaws.(Present tense version available in French)

Problemas en ParaísoPast Tense - 250 unique wordsVictoria Andalucci and her 16-year-old son are enjoy-ing a fun-filled vacation in Mexico. A typicalteenager, Tyler spends his days on the beach with theother teens from Club Chévere, while his mother at-tends a conference and explores Mexico. Her questfor adventure is definitely quenched, as she ventures

out of the resort and finds herself alone and in a perilous fight for her life!Will anyone be able to save her? (Also available in French)

Santana Past tense - 210 unique words

Carlos Santana is a legendary Mexican Americanmusician. He started out as a poor child in a tiny Mex-ican village and transformed himself into an icon ofRock ‘n’ Roll. His story illustrates the ups and downsinherent in any journey of success and the power ofperseverance. Whether or not you are a fan of Santana,

his story will leave you inspired!

Vidas impactantes Past tense - 250 unique wordsExplore the fascinating stories of six influential and in-spirational Spanish-speakers whose lives have beenimpactful. A baseball star who gave his life helpingothers, a Cuban exile turned superstar, a mother whonever gave up the search for her missing son, a para-lyzed soccer star who fought his way to the top in a

new profession, a woman who revealed the secrets of history, and a shiftsupervisor in a mine who didn’t realize his shift would last 70 days! Youmay have heard of these impactful individuals, but after reading their sto-ries you are sure to feel inspired.

Kristy Placido

Los Baker van a Perú375 unique words(Past & Present Tense - 2 versions under one cover!)Are the Baker family’s unfortunate mishaps brought onby bad luck or by the curse of the shrunken head? Jointhe Bakers as they travel through Peru and experiencea host of cultural (mis)adventures that are full of fun,excitement and suspense!

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La maldición de la cabeza reducida375 unique wordsHailey and Jason think they have rid themselves of thecursed shrunken head now that they are back homefrom their family trip to Peru. Their relief quickly givesway to shock, as they realize that their ordeal has onlyjust begun. Returning the head and appeasing the Jí-varo tribe become a matter of life and death! Will Hai-ley and Jason beat the odds?

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La Llorona de MazatlánPast Tense - Fewer than 300 unique wordsLaney Morales’ dream of playing soccer in Mexicosoon turns into a nightmare, as she discovers that thespine-chilling legends of old may actually be modernmysteries. Why does no one else seem to hear or seethe weeping woman in the long white dress? Laneymust stop the dreadful visits, even if it means comingface to face with…La Llorona.

Rebeldes de TejasPast Tense - Fewer than 280 unique wordsWhen Mexican dictator, Santa Anna, discovers thatthousands of U.S. citizens have spilled into the Mex-ican state of Texas and seized the Alamo, he is deter-mined to expel or kill all of them. What will happenwhen Mexican Juan Seguín finds himself fighting forTexas and against his country’s dictator?

Hasta la sepulturaPast tense - Fewer than 400 unique wordsIn 1500, Queen Isabella issued an official decree per-manently closing the secret passageways that lie belowthe city of Salamanca... Nico and Adriana decided to ex-plore them and it will prove more dangerous than eitherimagined. They discover that the legendary evil thatlurks below Salamanca is not so mythical after all…

VectorPast tense - Fewer than 400 unique wordsA vector of venom infects Antonio, a Panamanianteenager, with an illness that has far-reaching conse-quences. He is transported back in time to work on theconstruction of the Panama Canal. Is his eerie displace-ment reversible or will he finish his life working on oneof the most dangerous construction sites in history?

La hija del sastrePast tense - Fewer than 500 unique wordsGrowing up in a Republican family during Franco'sfascist rule of Spain, Emilia Matamoros discovers justhow important keeping a secret can be! After her fa-ther, a former captain in the Republican army, goesinto hiding, Emilia not only must work as a seam-stress to support her family, she must work to guard asecret that will protect her father and save her familyfrom certain death. Will her innocence be lost and will

she succumb to the violent tactics of Franco's fascist regime?

La Guerra SuciaPast tense - Fewer than 600 unique wordsAmerican Journalist and single mother, Leslie Cor-rales travels to Argentina to investigate the suspiciousdisappearance of ‘Raúl,’ the son of Magdalena Casas-novas. When Leslie discovers that Raúl, along with10’s of thousands of other suspected dissidents, hassuffered horrific atrocities at the hands of the Argen-tine government, she finds herself in a life-altering

series of events. Will she escape with her life and with the informationshe needs to help the Argentine people?

La Calaca AlegrePast tense - Fewer than 425 unique wordsDoes Carlos really suffer from post-traumatic stress dis-order, or are his strange sensations and life-like night-mares much more real than anyone, including Carlos,believes? Determined to solve the mystery of hismother’s disappearance, Carlos decides to return toChicago to face his fears and find his mother, even if itmeans living out his nightmares in real life. As he un-

covers the mystery, he discovers the truth is much more complex and evilthan he ever imagined.

Vida y muerte en La Mara SalvatruchaPast tense - Fewer than 400 unique wordsThis compelling drama recounts life (and death) in oneof the most violent and well-known gangs in Los Ange-les, La Mara Salvatrucha 13. This is a gripping story ofone gang member’s struggle to find freedom.